Grace College & Seminary Partners with Kauffman Foundation to Host Class for Entrepreneurs

Pictured (from left to right): Alan Grossnickle, director of the William P. Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development, and Dr. Jeffrey Fawcett, dean of the School of Business and professor of marketing at Grace.

The Grace College School of Business and the Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development are collaborating with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to host a FastTrac New Venture class, a 10-week seminar offering key knowledge and resources to small business owners in the community. Taught by school of business faculty who are certified to teach Kauffman courses, the program will run January 20 to March 24 and will be held Monday evenings at the Ronald and Barbara Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.

FastTrac New Venture classes are designed specifically for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development. The classes aim to help potential or established business leaders begin building an infrastructure for business operations; explore the risk and success factors in the market place; understand how to access the human, financial, and business resources; network with entrepreneurs and professionals; respond to changes that can impact business; and build an actionable business plan.

“The Grace College School of Business is excited to be able to partner with local businesses to help them meet the challenge of today’s marketplace,” said Dr. Jeffrey Fawcett, dean of the School of Business and professor of marketing at Grace.

Alan Grossnickle, director of the William P. Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development, explains, “The business school is already reaching out to the youth in the community through dual enrollment programs at several area high schools, and we have the regular business school for students at Grace. Now we want to reach out into the community to help adults who want to learn how to start a new business venture–even if they’re already involved in a business we want to help them further develop the skill sets necessary to be successful.”

FastTrac programs are delivered by a variety of affiliate organizations, both non-profit and for-profit alike, including chambers of commerce, business development centers, local and regional economic development councils, colleges, universities, consulting firms, and many others. By helping entrepreneurs succeed, FastTrac programs contribute to building and sustaining strong, vibrant communities and economies.

The Kauffman Foundation is devoted to advancing entrepreneurship as one of the fundamental aspects of life in the United States. Focusing on research, education, technical assistance and policy, the foundation works to increase the number and success rate of individuals engaged in the process of starting or growing their own business or idea, and works with partners to design programs based on the proven principles, techniques and leadership tactics that make starting and growing a business a more common choice for Americans of all walks of life.